Rock Band Offers Miami Students Financial Lesson Based On Personal Experience

September 24, 2015 | 4:32 PM

The band GOODING performs at Miami Beach High School. The band visits schools around the country to play their music and teach financial lessons.

You might be forgiven for mistaking Miami Beach High School’s auditorium for the Fillmore Thursday.

Students waved lit cellphones above their heads.

They sang along with “whoa-oh-oh” choruses.

But when the concert ended, they got a lesson in what some have dubbed nature’s most powerful force.

“It’s called compounding interest,” says Gooding, the guitarist who uses only the one name professionally and is lead singer of a band by the same name (though in all caps). “Raise your hand if you know what compounding interest is? I won’t make you say it. Awesome.”

If you watch shows like CSI or have seen a car commercial, you’ve probably heard GOODING’s music.

John O'Connor / StateImpact Florida

Members of the band GOODING answer questions and sign posters for Miami Beach High students.

But members of the band, originally from Kansas, started a nonprofit because they were concerned many students are not being taught anything about personal finance. Financial companies sponsor their shows, such as Raymond James did for their Miami trip.

GOODING hopes students will learn from their money mistakes.

Florida is one of 17 states that require personal finance lessons, but some lawmakers want a more thorough course.

The band advises students to prioritize their spending; limit credit card use; stay away from pay day loans. Save.

At the end of the show, members of GOODING answered student questions and signed posters.

Tenth-grader Matias Aranguiz says he wasn’t aware of what pay day lenders were before the assembly.

“I think it’s really useful for the future life,” he said. “My dad sometimes tells me a bunch of stuff — don’t get too many credit cards — but there are some things that I didn’t know about.

This was the first time GOODING has played in Miami. They’ll perform for students at Miami Beach High twice and again at the Arsht Center Friday.

John O'Connor / StateImpact Florida

Gooding talks to Miami Beach High School students about making smart financial decisions